CWLL partners with CLCF, creates city’s second Little League softball program

Kevin Pomeroy, Sports Editor
Posted 11/20/14

Cranston Western Little League has a long history as one of Rhode Island’s top baseball programs, with seven 12-year-old all-star state titles, a New England title and a national title to its …

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CWLL partners with CLCF, creates city’s second Little League softball program

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Cranston Western Little League has a long history as one of Rhode Island’s top baseball programs, with seven 12-year-old all-star state titles, a New England title and a national title to its name.

This spring, Western will try its hand in starting a new tradition – CWLL softball.

In an unprecedented partnership with Cranston’s League for Cranston’s Future (CLCF), a Cal Ripken program, softball will be played at Brayton Avenue in 2015 under the Western name.

“I think this is good for everybody,” said Western president Steve Piscopiello. “It shows that we can work together.”

Recently, Cranston National Budlong has had the only softball program in the city under the Little League blanket, and it has had an extended run of success that included a state championship last year and a third-place showing in the Eastern Region.

While Western has never had softball, the league was approached by CLCF to see if it wanted to try its hand. With a golden opportunity to expand some and add new members, plus take on a new challenge, Western accepted.

Under the agreement, it will be a strictly recreational softball league followed by a summer all-star season. CLCF’s travel program won’t be affected.

“There’s a perception out there that there’s bad blood between us and CLCF,” Piscopiello said. “That’s not the case.”

One issue that the new softball program brings up is the boundary that separates Western’s zone with CNB’s zone. In the past, because CNB was the only option, girls on the Western side of the city have still played for CNB.

As it stands now, that won’t change, as the girls who have already been in CNB’s program from the Western part of Cranston will be allowed to continue to play for CNB.

Newcomers to either league will be directed to their proper geographical destination.

“Under no circumstances do we want girls to leave their current program,” Piscopiello said.

And now, when spring comes, there will be two Little League softball programs in the city of Cranston, with the help of CLCF.

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